Dr Dulux: How to Choose Your Paint Palette

Q: I know what colours I like, but I'm not sure if they'll work in my room. What do I need to think about before I choose a paint scheme?

A: As Dulux's resident agony aunt, this is the sort of question I get asked a lot. The main rule is that there are no rules – at Dulux, we believe in making your home a deeply personal and unique environment – but if you need a few pointers to get you started, I’d be happy to oblige…

1. Draw inspiration from the things you love and what interests you, including any hobbies or perhaps colours you like to wear. A good way to try out lots of shades without commitment or expense is with Dulux’s free Visualizer app, which uses augmented reality to show you how colours would look in your space. Take a picture or video of your room, then scroll through a huge range of shades, simply tapping the ones that catch your eye to see them instantly ‘painted’ on your walls.

2. Consider a palette that reminds you of a happy memory, such as a coastal holiday or weekend in the countryside, and then capture the spirit of that experience in your home. Our Considered Luxury palette, for instance, does just that, with its light, fresh neutrals evoking natural materials and offering an instantly calming mood.

From the soft grey-blue Dulux Colour of the Year, Denim Drift, through to off-white New Meringue, all 10 colours in the palette are designed to tone in harmony with one another, so you can experiment with different combinations, from strong stripes to washes of the palest shades, confident that any scheme will work beautifully.

3. If you want to add a little personality to a space without overpowering it with colour, think about combining a main, neutral shade with an accent colour; this could be a feature wall, an alcove or a door.

4. If painting your main walls isn’t feasible, try experimenting on a smaller scale with projects such as photo frames, chairs or other accessories using one of our water-based wood and metal paints, which come in a huge range of shades. Choose Quick Dry Gloss for a lustrous finish, or go for Quick Dry Satinwood or Eggshell for a more subtle effect. This is also a good way of playing around with different colour combinations first before you tackle a whole room.

5. Working around an existing item in your home? Then I'd suggest using the Visualizer’s colour picker. Simply aim your phone at the item and the app will suggest a matching paint colour – simple! The picker is accurate enough to isolate even small splashes of colour, so you can home in on your favourites. Then have fun using the app to visualise the colours on your walls to help you make that final choice.

6. It’s often useful to get a second opinion, so before you take the plunge, why not share a selection of photos of your ‘painted’ room with friends and family straight from the app, either directly to them or via social media? It’s easy, and their endorsement could be just the boost you need.

You can order tester pots through the app, so there’s no need to trek out to the shops. And once you’re happy with your choice, you can have the paint delivered to your door in a couple of taps, too.

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